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2015 Team Preview: Bishop Ward

February 25, 2015

By Sean McCann
Prep Baseball Report Kansas

As we prepare for the upcoming 2015 high school season, we will be taking a preseason glimpse at programs from around the state.

Team: Bishop Ward
Nickname: Cyclones
Class: 4A-II
League: Kaw Valley
Head Coach: Dennis Hurla
Years as Head Coach at School: 19
2014 Overall Record: 15-10
2014 League Record: 7-5
2014 League Finish: 2nd
2014 Post-Season Finish: 4A-II State Champion
2014 Final Top 25 Ranking: 16

Returning Starters: 5
Pitchers with 15+ Innings Returning: 2

TOP RETURNERS
Cole Henley, SS/RHP, 2015 – 1st Team Kaw Valley League
Jesus Martinez, 3B/OF, 2015 – 2nd Team Kaw Valley League
Vic Tapia, OF, 2015 – 2nd Team Kaw Valley League
Bryan Barnhart, OF, 2015 – HM Kaw Valley League

X-FACTOR
Cole Henley. Henley was a key two-way player for the Cyclones during the state championship season a year ago and is their top returner. At the plate he hit .316 and led the team in doubles (11), RBI (23) and was second on the team with nine stolen bases.

KEY PLAYER LOST
Nick Wilson, LHP/1B, 2014. Wilson earned KABC 4A-II 1st Team All-State honors last spring after hitting .455 while also leading the pitching staff in wins racking up a 7-3 record and 2.92 ERA.

KEY STAT #1
Last spring Bishop Ward captured their 8th state championship in 11 years.
Also of note, the 2014 team produced the program’s top team ERA (2.94) and team batting average (.335) since 2006.

2015 OUTLOOK
The Cyclones must replace the top two pitchers and top three hitters from their 4A-II state championship club a year ago. Four all-league seniors return to the fold in 2015 in SS/RHP Cole Henley (top returning pitcher and 3-hole hitter), 3B/OF Jesus Martinez (.333, 9 extra base hits), OF Vic Tapia (.490 SLG%, 20 runs scored), and OF Bryan Barnhart (team-leading 11 stolen bases). A pair of juniors that saw limited action last spring are expected to see an expanded role this spring in SS/RHP Chase Gonzalez and OF Ivan Solis.

NOTEWORTHY

Bishop Ward maintains an information-packed team website at www.bishopwardbaseball.com you can access to follow their team this spring. Its currently under construction but should be up and going again in the next few weeks.

For Kansas high school baseball news and updates follow @pbrkansas on twitter.

COACHES PRESEASON QUESTIONNAIRE

We appreciate all of the help provided by high school coaches across the state assisting with our preseason coverage. If you have not already done so you can fill out our coaches' preseason questionnaire online by clicking here.

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